pattée

Pattée is a term used in heraldry to describe a form in which the end of a line or the arms of a charge broadens toward the outer edge, producing a blunt, paw‑like termination. The word comes from the French patte, meaning paw or foot, reflecting the shape’s resemblance to an animal foot. In blazoning, pattee endings are applied to crosses as well as to ordinaries and other charges, creating a distinctive widening effect at the outer extremities.

The most familiar application is the cross pattee, where each arm broadens toward its end and typically finishes in a rounded or blunt tip. The concept can also occur in other charges and ordinaries, such as bend pattee or fess pattee, where the diagonal or horizontal band carries pattee ends. The specific form of the pattee end varies by artist and period, ranging from square-like terminations to more rounded lobes, but the characteristic widening toward the outside remains central.

In heraldic practice, pattée shapes serve to differentiate arms and charges and to convey a sense of strength and stability. The term is part of a family of related forms describing how edges widen or narrow, including various pattee derivatives used across European heraldry. While crosses are the most common context for pattee shapes, the concept is applicable to a broad range of heraldic devices, both in historical armory and modern blazon and design.